ToneAdapt

Loading...

Back to Community

Riff Tone

"5150"

Van Halen

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarErnie Ball Music Man Eddie Van Halen Signature (EVH) or Kramer 5150 (exact model debated, but most sources and photos from the 5150 album era indicate the Kramer 5150 with a single humbucker was used for the riff section)
AmpPeavey 5150 head (original block letter, 100W, used for the 5150 album studio recording)

Amp Settings

gain8
bass6

Create an account to see all tone details

Create Free Account

Effects & Signal Chain

Notes

Studio recording, 1985-1986, 5150 album sessions. No pedals in front of amp for riff section; effects (delay, reverb) added post in mix. Pickup selector set to bridge. No chorus, flanger, or phaser on riff. All effects in mix/post, not in signal chain. No evidence of pedals or effects loop for riff. Settings are for studio, not live.

Tone Character(10)
tight palm-muted chugsaggressive and saturatedarticulate note separationpunchy low endslightly scooped midscrisp treble bitepercussive attackdry, in-your-face soundminimal ambiencehigh-output humbucker clarity

Difficulty

The riff requires fast, accurate alternate picking and palm muting, with tight, syncopated rhythm at high gain. The articulation and speed demand advanced right-hand technique and precise timing.

This tone has been researched 7 times by the community

Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear

Create Free Account